After more than a fortnight in detention, a court in Zimbabwe has freed on bail three officials of the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) charged with lying to the police.

The three women were arrested after they said they had been abducted and sexually assaulted by state agents in May following a protest over Covid-19 lockdown conditions.

The government, which in the past has been accused of abducting its opponents, says there are glaring inconsistencies in their statements.

The High Court set stringent bail conditions.

MP Joana Mamombe and two youth leaders are not allowed to speak to the international press or post on social media.

But the MDC says what is critical is that they have been granted bail. The three women have spent over two weeks behind bars.

The government says the alleged abductions are part of an orchestrated attempt to undermine President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government and it says it has mobile phone tracking and video evidence to prove that the officials were out in public at the time they say they were abducted.
No date for the trial has been set.